BOULDER, Colo. — Barry Morphew, a Colorado man out on a $3 million bond while awaiting trial for the alleged murder of his wife, was jailed Friday after prosecutors said he violated his release terms by being involved in a hit-and-run crash in Denver.
Prosecutors allege Morphew breached his bond conditions, which restricted his travel to southern Colorado except for work, legal appointments, or emergencies. The incident occurred on Aug. 28 as he drove to Denver International Airport, possibly to pick up his daughter, according to court filings.
Bond Violation Alleged
Alamosa County District Judge Amanda Hopkins set a hearing for Tuesday to review Morphew’s bond status after prosecutors filed a motion stating his trip to the airport constituted a breach. The motion, filed by District Attorney Anne Kelly, noted that travel to the airport for non-work purposes violated his bond terms.
Details of the Hit-and-Run
Court records describe the incident as a multi-vehicle collision in Denver. A concerned citizen reported Morphew driving aggressively before striking two vehicles. One driver recorded the interaction, which showed Morphew refusing to provide identification, claiming he had no insurance, and offering $300 in cash to cover damages—an offer the other driver refused. Morphew then fled the scene, nearly striking another person and driving over a curb to escape, according to the judge’s order.
GPS data obtained by prosecutors indicated Morphew’s trip to the airport, which his attorneys acknowledged but did not explain in detail.
Background on the Murder Case
Morphew has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the 2020 death of his wife, Suzanne Morphew, whose skeletal remains were found in southern Colorado in 2023. Prosecutors allege Morphew used a tranquilizing drug cocktail commonly used to subdue wildlife, noting he was one of the few people in the area authorized to possess such chemicals.
Charges against Morphew were initially dropped in 2021 but reinstated the following year. Investigators found no signs of trauma on Suzanne Morphew’s remains, though prosecutors claim traces of the drug were detected in her bone marrow.
Morphew’s attorneys did not respond to requests for comment.